I know my earlier post today might seem like I’m disillusioned with Occupy right now, but I’m not. I’m bothered by their alleged response to sexual violence, but I also realize that as much as a movement is the people who make it up, those people are also a product of our society and, as such, are as flawed as that society is. Sure, I’m pissed about what has happened. But, I also know that the Occupy movement has done a great job of challenging the values we all seem to be stuck with: buy buy buy, work work work, bills bills bills. Admittedly, I might not the best example of their anti-materialism focus… I love my new fancy TV after years and years with an old TV and no cable, but I also really really love TV and movies. As this site clearly attests to, I argue that they are an important part of our society that not only has the ability to challenge our values and perceptions, but also a medium we have the ability and obligation to challenge right back. I also own a lot more clothes than I would like, partially due to my medical weight gain over the past few years. Listen, you can’t wear sweats to a government job–Girl had to buy real pants. And, you know, some cute tops, obviously! What about my 900+ books, when I’m a library-card carrying member of society? Well, I’ll never apologize for those! I am determined to figure out what magic spell Hermione did to carry the gang’s stuff in Deathly Hallows and then I will carry my books with me everywhere. Ev. Ry. Where. Anyhow… the point is not that I feel a teensy bit guilty about my TV or my recent pillow purchases from IKEA. It’s that I think those pillows are fabulous for reading one of my too many books in bed!

No, all kidding aside, it’s really that OWS has done a lot right, like getting people to even think about materialism. No movement is perfect, nor are it’s members. We have an obligation to challenge them when they misstep, but we that doesn’t mean that what they are saying is any less true (see also: Ghandi and MLK).

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